Export volume ofChinese ferrosilicon has markedly declined since 2009.Exports of Chinese ferrosilicon was 1.54
million tons in 2007, sharply declined to 0.447 million tons in 2009, 0.78
million tons in 2010, 0.62 million tons in 2011 and 0.454 million tons in 2012.
In addition to high export tariffs and smuggling activity, several external
factors are also affecting exports of Chinese ferrosilicon. The global financial
crisis broke out in 2008 dragged global industry into a cycle of economic
downturn, sharply declined demand for raw materials. China, the world’s major
exporter of raw materials and ferrosilicon accounting for a significant part of
ferroalloys exports, were unlikely to escape from difficulty.
Besides the global economy, exports of Chinese ferrosilicon are impacted by
other factors. At the 10th China Ferro-alloys International Conference, Mr Xue
Yongliang, president of Erdos Xijin
Kuangye Co.,Ltd shared his opinion on influencing factors for exports of
Chinese ferrosilicon. In his opinion, the major external influencing factors
were mainly from Malaysia’s planned newly added capacity to started in 2014,
Russia’s expanded capacity of 1 million tons from the present’s 0.4 million
tons, their zero export tariff, Europe’s advanced ferrosilicon production
techniques and self-protectionism of North America producers. These challenges
will definitely intensify competition, cutting price competitiveness of Chinese
ferrosilicon in global market.